Well packer with by-pass valve



Dec. 17, 1968 M. D. KILGORE 3,416,609

WELL PACKER WITH BY-PASS VALVE Filed April 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Shes@ l ATTORNEY Dec- 17, 1968 M. D. KILGORE 3,416,609

WELL PACKER WITH BY-PAss VALVE llec April 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INVENTOR ATTORN E Y United States Patent O 3,416,609 WELL PACKER WHTH BY-PASS VALVE Marion D. Kilgore, Dallas, rllex., assignor to Dresser Industries, luc., Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 543,893 10 Claims. (Cl. 166-13l) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A well packer and by-pass valve combination for use in a well bore. The combination includes a mandrel releasably connected to and extending through the packer, a port extending through the mandrel relatively above the packer, a port closure member slidably mounted on the mandrel above the packer and cooperable with the packer whereby the valve closure member can be moved between positions opening and closing the port. The arrangement being such that the packer can be set in the well bore, the closure member moved to open and close the port as desired, and the mandrel and valve closure member moved longitudinally relative to the packer to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction of the pipe to which the mandrel is connected while the packer remains set.

This invention is concerned with a well packer and is particularly concerned with a by-pass valve construction disposed above the packer in conjunction with a novel holddown mechanism which permits the valve to be run in open position for circulation of fluid from the tubing to the casing annulus, which may be closed after the packer is lowered and set in the well, which may be opened for circulation of Huid `between the tubing and the annulus without unseating the packer, and which may be retrieved from the well in open position after the packer has been unset to provide circulation of fluid between the annulus and the tubing.

The by-pass valve arrangement herein disclosed and claimed is particularly adapted for connection to, and use in, association with a packer of the type disclosed in the co-pending application for patent, Ser. No. 538,514, led Feb. 17, 1966, now United States Patent No. 3,356,- 142, by Morgan L. Crow and Marion D. Kilgore, entitled, Mechanical Holddown for Well Packer, which is a continuation-in-part of our previous application Ser. No. 429,425, led Feb. l, 1965, by the same applicants and under the same title, said last application being now abandoned.

In said application there is disclosed a packer having a novel disengageable holddown means wherein the mandrel on which the packer is run may be disengaged from the packer after set and moved vertically in sealed relationship to the bore of the packer while the packer is set, which permits the tubing string to rbe moved vertically with relationship to the packer after the packer is set for setting and manipulation of other tools in the well below the packer, to permit the tubing string to be set in tension, and to permit expansion and contraction of the tubing string in thermal recovery procedure, all as described in said co-pending application, reference to which is hereby made.

The packer construction described and claimed in said co-pending application is particularly adapted for use in so-called thermal recovery procedures wherein steam or hot gases are injected into or released into the producing formation, either from the surface, or by in situ combustion wherein the packer and/or associated parts and the tubing are subjected to extreme temperature changes.

In thermal recovery procedures heretofore practiced, after the packer was set, liquid consisting of a mixture Patented Dec. 17, 1968 lCe of solids and fluids was always present in the tubingcasing annulus above the packer. During the injection cycle of steam or heated fluids, any liquid present in the casing annulus would be boiled away before the eiciency of the steaming cycle reached its maximum, thus resulting in a residue and accumulation of solid materials above the packer which either prevent or make ditlicult the retrieval of the packer.

In present thermal recovery procedures the huff and puff method is widely practiced. This consists 0f a predetermined number of days of steam injection down the tubing and into the formation, while the packer is set above the formation, followed by a short period of natural ow by reason of the pressure built up in the formation by steam injection, which is followed by a relatively longer period of pumping operation to reclaim the oil and gas released in the formation by heat injected thereinto.

It is customary procedure to unset and remove the packer from the well after the short period of natural flow and to re-run a pump for the pumping cycle.

As the injection cycle progresses there is often developed a very high bottom-hole pressure in the formation due to the rise in temperature caused by the hot uids which are injected. At the same time, the annulus around the tubing above the packer has been boiled dry, and there is no reservoir of the fluid available to control the well when the packer is unset. This of course represents a highly dangerous situation in which the high bottom-hole pressure, aggravated by steam and/or natural gas under high temperatures may cause high rates of flow or blowouts when the packer is loosened from seating engagement with the casing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides improved well apparatus including a packer arranged to be set in a well bore. The packer has a bore extending therethrough and includes a mandrel or support extending through the bore of the packer, a port located in the mandrel relatively above the packer, valve means slidably carried on the mandrel arranged for movement between the position wherein the port is open and a position wherein the port is closed, and latch means releasably connecting the valve member with the mandrel in each of the positions, the mandrel and valve means being movable relative to the packer while the packer remains set.

This invention provides means to equalize the pressure below and above the packer and to transfer fluids from below the packer to the annulus above the packer before the packer is unset and retrieved.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a by-pass valve above the packer which may be run in open position to provide communication between the tubing and casing-tubing annulus to permit by-pass of fluid while the packer is being lowered and to permit circulation of fluid between the casing annulus and the tubing after the packer is set and before the commencement of the injection of steam or other heated iluids.

It is a further Object of this invention to provide a by-pass valve and packer combination through which a gas, such as nitrogen, can be pumped down the casing annulus, thereby displacing the well uid present in said casing annulus, to subsequently close the by-pass valve and thereby provide a tubing-casing annulus filled with gas and devoid of well fluids with their usual contamination with solids, salt, etc.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a by-pass valve above the packer which may be closed for steam or hot uid injection and subsequently opened for venting steam and gaseous products through the casing annulus while the tubing string is being used to pump the liquid production out of the well.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bypass valve which may be closed after the packer is set and which may be opened without unseating the packer to allow an equalization of pressure below and above the packer and to allow the circulation and transfer of well fluids from below the packer to the annulus above the packer prior to unsetting the packer to protect the well against blow-outs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination retrievable packer and bypass valve disposed thereabove wherein the valve may be opened and closed for circulation of fluid between the tubing and the casing annulus above the packer without unsetting the packer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination by-pass valve and packer wherein the valve may be closed as the packer is being set and may be opened without unsetting the packer.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed specification hereinafter following and by referring to the drawings annexed hereto.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawing, wherein FIGURES I, IA and IB is a half-sectional elevational view of the packer and the by-pass valve, showing the by-pass in open position as it would appear while the packer is being run into the well;

FIGURE II is an inside elevational view of the upper J-slot showing the upper gudgeon pin in broken lines in two positions in said I -slotg FIGURE III is an elevational view of the lower I -slot showing the lower gudgeon pin in broken lines in two positions in said I-slot;

FIGURE IV is a transverse sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE IA.

FIGURE V is a half-sectional elevational view of the upper portion of the by-pass valve and packer combination, showing the valve in closed position as it would appear when the packer is set.

Numeral references are employed to indicate the variout parts shown in the drawings and like numerals indicate like parts throughout the various gures of the drawings.

Referring first to the running-in position of the tool (FIGS. I-IB), there is a tubular support member extending through the packer bore which is made up of an upper connection body 1, adapted for engagement to a tubular production string (not shown) by the tubing threads 2 and the tubular mandrel 106 to which body 1 is attached by the companion threads 3. The outer surface of the connection lbody 1 provides a sealing surface 4 and has one or more circulation ports 5 provided through the wall thereof. There is an outwardly extending annular portion 6 presenting an upwardly facing shoulder 7. One or more key screws S are attached to the annular portion 6, and are arranged to transmit torque from the upper connection body 1 to the position sleeve 15 and I-slot body or housing 27, in a manner hereinafter described. There is an inwardly extending groove 9 formed about body 1 providing a downwardly facing shoulder 10 in which groove a latch ring 11 is disposed. The latch ring 11 is a split ring with spring-like capabilities and is normally carried in an expanded position but is subject to collapse inwardly in response to a predetermined axial thrust. A latch ring retainer ring 12 surrounds the body 1 and is adapted to hold the latch ring 11 in the groove 9, and is retained in position on the upper connection 1 by the snap ring 13 disposed in an appropriate groove.

The valve housing 14 is connected to the position sleeve 15 by the companion threads 16. The housing 14 and sleeve 15 together comprise a seal carrier. The valve housing 14 has a counterbore 17 therein which contains two spaced seal rings 18 spaced apart by a spacer .19 all of which are retained in the counterbore 17 by a seal retainer ring 20, which abuts the upper end 21 of the position sleeve 15. The seal rings 18 slidably seal against sealing surface 4 on body 1.

The position sleeve 15 has one or more slots 22 through the wall thereof adapted to slidably engage the key screws 8, extending therethrough, for transmission thereby of torque or rotary motion from the upper connection body 1 to the position sleeve 15 and associated structure.

A counterbored groove 23 on the inner side of position sleeve 15 has tapered edges 24 and is adapted for engagement with the latch ring 11 when the valve is in the open position and to hold the position sleeve 15 and associated structures in a lixed axial position relative to the upper connection body 1 until a predetermined axial force has been exerted thereby to cause spring collapse of the split latch ring 11 into groove 9, allowing relative axial motion between the position sleeve 15 and upper connection body 1.

A second counterbore 25, of substantially the same diameter as the counterbore 23, has a tapered edge or shoulder 26 which is adapted for engagement with the latch ring 11 when the valve is closed, in the manner hereinafter described, thereby limiting axial movement in one direction between the position sleeve 15 and the upper connection body 1 until a predetermined axial thrust sufficient to collapse the latch ring 11 has been re-applied in the opposite direction.

The upper J -slot body 27 is rigidly attached to the position sleeve 15 by the companion threads 28 and presents an upwardly facing surface 29, which is adapted for engagement with the lower end 30 of the upper connection 1 when the latch ring 11 has been placed in engagement with shoulder 26 in the second counterbore 25 in the position sleeve 15 in the `manner hereinafter described.

The upper I-slot body 27 has a depending skirt 31 and a J-slot groove or profile 32 milled or cast on the inner surface thereof (see FIG. II).

The upper J-slot body 27 and the associated structure is adapted for engagement with the outwardly extending pins 112, carried on a gudgeon nipple 111 of the packer assembly. The purpose and function of this engagement will be described hereinafter in connection with the description of the operation of the device.

The tubular packer mandrel 106 is rigidly attached to the upper connection body 1 by the mating threads 3, and extends downwardly through the packer assembly and terminates by the mating threads 107 by which a lower I -slot body 108 is rigidly attached.

The lower I-slot body 108 has an exteriorly milled or cast profile or slot 109 on the outer side thereof, as shown in FIGURE III and terminates by external threads 110 for attachment to a lower production string (not shown).

A setting sleeve 113 is attached to the gudgeon nipple 111 by mating threads 114 and depends therefrom. Both the gudgeon nipple 111 and the setting sleeve 113 are slidably arranged around the tubular mandrel 106. There is an annular groove 115 cut about the setting sleeve 113 which is adapted to receive a split expansible retaining ring 116 therein. Ring 116 has annular tapers 116er Iand 116b on the inner side thereof as shown more clearly in FIG. V. An annular shoulder 117 extends outwardly of the setting sleeve 113 and an external tapered surface 118 is provided on the lower end of the setting sleeve 113.

The upper slip housing 119 has a spring retainer ring 120 threadedly engaged thereto by the mating threads 121. The spring retainer ring 120 has an inwardly extending shoulder 122 thereon arranged to be carried solidly between the annular shoulder 117 and the adjacent retainer ring 116.

It will be noted that downward motion of the upper slip housing 119 with respect tot the setting sleeve 113 is prohibited by the xed shoulder 117 but that relative upward motion is permitted upon expansion of the retainer ring 116.

A look ring 123 is positioned just above the expansible ring 116 and is retained in the spring retainer ring 120 by means of a snap ring 124 or the like. A multiplicity of peripherally spaced ri`shaped windows 125 are cut through the wall of the upper slip housing 119 (FIGURE 1A). There are also a multiplicity of laterally extending slots 126 provided through the wall of housing 119 in axial alignment with the T-shaped `windows 125, said slots 126 and windows 125 being arranged to receive the upper expander head segments 127 and allow radial movement thereof but prohibiting axial movement thereof. The windows 125 further prohibit relative rotational movement between the segments 127 and the slip housing 119.

In the unset position, the kupper expander head segments 127 are carried in spaced relationship about the mandrel 106 and are held in this arrangement by the windows 125 and the slots 126 engaged therewith. Each of the segments 127 has an outwardly extending portion 128 which tits into the slots 126, and an outwardly extending portion 129 extending into the windows 125. Formed on each head 127 is an. upwardly and inwardly extending tapered surface 130 and an inwardly and downwardly tapered surface 13011. The inwardly and downwardly tapered surface 130a engages the tapered surface 1118 on the setting sleeve 113 when the setting sleeve is moved downwardly relative to the segments 127 and causes the segments 127 to expand, and the setting sleeve 113 to be Imoved behind the segments and between the segments 127 and the mandrel 106.

There are a multiplicity of upper slip segments 131 carried in the windows 125 each having toothed serrations 132 on the outer sides thereof. The slip Segments 131 have laterally extending elements 133 arranged in the wide portion 125a of the T-shaped windows 125 which restrict the vertical motion of the slip segments 131 to a relatively short axial movement in respect to the slip housing 119. The inner tapered surfaces 1310 on the slip segments 131 co-act with the outer tapered surfaces 138 on the upper expander head segments 127 so that when the upper eX- panrder head segments are `expanded and relative downward motion of the slip segment 131 occurs, the slips are in position to disengageably anchor the packer to the casing wall.

The upper slip springs 134 are engaged with and arranged to urge the slip segments 131 inwardly and out of engagement with the casing until the packer is set.

The take-up spring 135 is arranged between the inner end of the retainer ring 120` and a slip ring 136 which rests against the upper ends of the slip seg-ments 131. The spring 135 tends to urge the upper slip segments 131 downwardly in the wide portions 125n or the T -shaped windows 125 to the extent allowed by the outwardly extending portions 133 on the slips.

A spacer collar 13541 is attached to the lower end of the upper slip housing 119 by mating threads 119a. The spacer collar 135a is rigidly `attached at the lower end to an upper thimble 137 by the mating threads 138. The lower end 139 of upper thimble 137 is adapted to exert a compressive force on the packing element 144, hereinafter described, and has an upwardly extending shoulder 140 thereon to limit the downward motion of a packing shell 141, which has `a mating annular sh-oulder 142 secured thereto. The packing shell 141, the tubular mandrel 106, and collar 13551 define an annular void 143 into which the packing shell 141 extends when the packing element 144 is compressed.

The packing element, indicated generally at 144, preferably consists of an enclosing boot 145, a multiplicity of heat resistant braided elements 146, and retainer rings 147 at each end thereof. The packing shell 141 is rigidly attached to a seal housing 148 by the mating threads 149 and has an upwardly facing surface 150 thereon which cooperates with the lower end 139 of the upper thimble 137 and the packing shell 141 to contain the packing element 144 in relaxed position and to exert a compressive force thereon when the surface and the lower end 139 move toward each other.

The seal housing 148 has an inwardly extending shoulder 151 therein and is connected to the lower expander head 152I by the mating threads 153.

The lower expander head 152 has an upwardly extending portion 154. The inwardly extending shoulder 151 of the seal housing 148 and the upwardly extending portion 154 of the lower head 152 define an annular space in which there is positioned a seal assembly 155 which consists of a plurality of rings of suitable sealing material 156 and upper and lower wiper rings 157. Slight pressure is maintained on the seal assembly 155 by means of a multiplicity of springs 158 and plungers 159 which are contained in bores in an upwardly extending portion 154 of the lower expander head 152.

The lower expander head 152 has an outwardly and downwardly facing tapered surface 160 thereon and is rigidly attached to a recovery sleeve 161 by the mating threads 162. There are a multiplicity of lower slip segments 164 having toothed outer surfaces 165, an inwardly facing tapered Surface 166, and radially extending portions 167 thereon. The lower slip segments 164 are peripherally spaced around the recovery sleeve 161 in a like number of open-ended T-shaped slots 168, formed in the upper end of the lower slip housing 169. The slip h-ousing 169 has an internal annular shoulder 170 arranged to carry on its upper side the lower slip spring 171 and to abut on its downward side the lower take-up spring 172. The slip housing 169 further contains one or more slots 173 through the wall thereof which key screws 174 slidably extend into. The slots 173 and the interacting key screws 174 prohibit relative rotative motion between the slip housing 169 and the anchor cage 175, but allow a restricted and limited longitudinal reciprocal motion therebetween.

The key screws 174 are rigidly fixed in the anchor cage 175 by the mating threads 176 and the inner ends thereof extend through said anchor cage to engage a hole 177 in the drag spring sleeve 178. An outwardly extending annular'shoulder 163 is provided on the lower end of the drag spring sleeve 178. Since the drag spring sleeve 178 and recovery sleeve 161 a-re fastened together by the key screws 174, the shoulder 163 may be considered operatively, as being located on the recovery sleeve 161.

A multiplicity of drag pads 179 are carried in a like number of windows 180 provided through the wall of the anchor cage 175. The drag p'ads 179 have side flanges 181 thereon which limit the radial motion of said drag pads in respect to the anchor cage, and are urged to outward position by springs 182 resting between the drag spring sleeve 178 and the drag pads 179.

The anchor cage 175 has a downwardly facing shoulder 183 thereon arranged for co-action with the outwardly extended shoulder 163 on the drag spring sleeve 178.

The lower gudgeon sleeve 184 is attached to the anchor cage 175 by the mating threads 185. In the lower portion of the gudgeon sleeve 184, there are one or more gudgeon pins 186 secured thereto and extending inwardly to co-act with the profile slot 109 formed in the lower gudgeon body 108 attached to the mandrel 106.

The operation and function of the device hereinbefore described is as follows:

When the packer and valve combination is to be run in the hole, the valve combination is attached to the mandrel 106 of the packer by the companion threads 3 and the whole combination is attached to the runningin string by the threads 2. Any accessory tools desired for the installation can be made up and suspended on the packer by the threads 110. The circulation ports 5 are open and free for transference of Huid between the tubular string and the casing annulus therethrough as the assembly is lowered into the well. The valve is held in the open position by the latch ring 11 engaged in the groove 23 of the position sleeve 15 and resting on the upper end of ring 12. The gudgeon nipple 111 and gudgeon pins 112 are out of engagement with the upper J- slot body 27 as shown in FIGURE I.

The gudgeon nipple 111 and the setting sleeve 113 are supported in upward position in the running-in position by the expansible retaining ring 116 engaging the annular groove 115 about the setting sleeve 113. The retainer ring 120 supports nipple 111 and setting sleeve 113 and in turn is supported by the shoulder 117 on the setting sleeve 113. Depending from retaining ring 120 is the upper slip housing 119 which carries the upper slip segments 131 in non-engaging position, and the collapsible head segments 127 in a collapsed condition around the mandrel 106, and has position therebelow the spacer collar 135g and upper thimble 137, these latter elements being supported by the packing element, indicated generally as 144, which in turn is supported by the seal housing 148, the lower expander head 152, the recovery sleeve 161, and the lower I-slot body 108.

Engagement of the gudgeon pin 186 with slot 109 in position 186g of FIGURE III pulls the gudgeon sleeve 184, the anchor cage 175, with the drag pad 179 in frictional engagement with the casing, the lower slip housing 169, and the lower slips 164, simultaneously into the well.

When the selected setting depth for the packer has been reached, the lower I -slot body 108 is lowered and rotated in such' a manner as to disengage the gudgeon pins 186 from the slot 109 of the lower I-slot body 108. With the drag pads 179 in engagement with the casing, the gudgeon sleeve 184, the anchor cage 175, the lower slip housing 169, and the lower slip segments 164 are held stationary in respect to the casing wall to permit rotation of body 108 to disengage same from gudgeon pins 186 and the lowering of the mandrel and lower expander head 152 with relation to the slip segments 164. As the tubing string, mandrel 106 and associated packer elements are lowered further, contact is obtained between the tapered surface 160 of the lower expander head 152 and the tapered surface 166 of the lower slip segments 164, and the lower slip segments are moved outwardly into engagement with the casing, and further downward movement of the mandrel 106 and expander head 152 is stopped.

As the tubing string and associated assemblies are lowered further, the upper J-slot body 27 approaches and engages the gudgeon nipple 111, -with the gudgeon pins 112 assuming the position 112er, as shown in the profile or slot 32 in the upper I-slot body or housing 27 (FIGURE Il). Further downward movement will cause an axial thrust load to be applied to both the latch ring 11 in the position sleeve 1S and the expansible ring 116 in the setting sleeve 113. The predetermined force necessary to cause release of these retaining rings should be approximately equal so that they will release approximately simultaneously. Upon expansion of ring 116, the setting sleeve 113 moves downwardly in respect to the upper slip head segment assemblies, and is inserted behind the upper head segments 127', causing them to expand outwardly to move the upper slip segments 131 outwardly in position for engagement with the casing. Approximately simultaneously, the latch ring 11 is collapsed, the position sleeve 15 and the valve housing 14 move upwardly in respect to the upper connection body 1, and the upper spaced seal rings 18 straddle the circulation ports 5. As this occurs, the guide pins *8 move relatively downwardly in guide slots 22. Simultaneously, the lower end of the upper connection body 1 engages the upper face 29 of the upper J-slot body 27 positioning the two seal means 18, one on either side of the circulation ports 5, and creating a closure against communication between the tubing and the annular space between the casing and tubing which is perfectly balanced pressurewise.

IRelative axial movement between the valve assembly and body 1 is limited in two directions by engagement of the lower end 30 and shoulder 29 and the engagement of latch ring 11 with shoulder 26 in groove 25.

Depending on conditions in the Iwell and requirements of the installation, further compressive force can be applied to the packing element 144 by lowering the tubing and applying the weight thereof to said packing element, or by raising the tubing string, disengaging the upper J- slot body 27 from the gudgeon nipple 111 and causing the gudgeon pin 186 to assume the position 186b, in slot 109 of the lower J-slot body 108 to further expand the packer. In either case, when the setting force is relaxed, the packing element 144 is in complete compression in sealing engagement between the packer and the casing vvall and is held in that position by co-action of the upper slip segments 131 and upper head segments 127 and the lower slip segments 164 and the lower expander head 152. A pressure-tight seal is maintained between the packer assembly and the mandrel 106 throughout these procedures by the seal assembly 155 carried around the mandrel 10d by the seal housing 148. l

With the packer in set condition, there is enough frictional force generated by the collapsible upper head segments 127 against the setting sleeve 113 to overcome the predetermined collapsing strength of the latch ring 11, and therefore the valve can be reopened after the packer is set by engaging the gud-geon nipple 111 twith the upper l-slot body 27 and lifting upwardly to allow circulation through passages 5. In such event, the gudgeon pins 112 are placed in the position 11211, as shown in FIGURE Il, and the tubing string is raised to cause the latch ring 11 to collapse and traverse again and expand into the slot 23 inside the position sleeve 15.

In the construction herein described, the .mandrel assembly is independent of the set packer and may be disengaged and may move independently of the packer. For instance, the mandrel may be positioned high in the packer, without the gudgeon pins 1'86 engaging the lower I-slot body 108 to make allowance for expansion of the tubing; or, conversely, it may be positioned low in respect to the packer 'without the gudgeon pins 112 being engaged with the upper I-slot body 27 to compensate for contraction of the tubing', or the tubing may be disengaged and moved independently of the packer to permit setting or manipulation of tools below the packer.

When the packer and valve combination is to be removed from the well, the tubing string is lowered until the gudgeon pins 112 again engage theI upper J-slot body 27 and is rotated so that the gudgeon pins 112 will assume the position 112b, as shown in FIGURE `II. Further upward movement causes the following sequence of events:

The latch ring 11 is overcome by che upward pull on the upper connection 1 and reassumes the position shown in FIGURE I, wherein it is engaged in the annular slot 23 in the position sleeve 15. The upwardly facing shoulder on the outwardly extending portion 6 of said upper connection 1 contacts the shoulder 7 and vvill remove the valve housing 14, the position sleeve 15, the upper J-slot body 27, the gudgeon nipple 11, the setting sleeve 113, and cause said setting sleeve 113 to be removed from behind the collapsible head segments 127, allowing disengagement of the upper slip segments 131.

The shoulder 117 of the setting lsleeve 113 is now in position to pick up the recovery ring 120 and therewith the upper slip housing V119, the upper slip 131, the upper head segments 127, the spacer collar 13501, and the upper thimble 137, thereby allowing the packing element 144 to relax and contract out of sealing engagement with the casing.

The upwardly extending shoulder on the upper thimble 137 engages the outwardly extending portion 142 of the packing shell 141 and thereby moves the said packing shell 141, the seal housing 148, the lower expander head 152, and the recovery sleeve 161, which by engagement of the outwardly extending shoulder 163 thereon with the anchor cage 17S, removes the lower slip housing i169 and the lower slip segments 164 in disengaged position, and the depending gudgeon sleeve 184 with the non-engaged gudgeon pins 186.

It will be understood that other and further forms of the invention may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a well packer assembly arranged to be set in a well bore, said assembly having an axial 4bore therethrough; a tubular support extending through said packer assembly; means releasably attaching said tubular support within said bore whereby said tubular support may be released from said packer assembly and moved vertically with relationship thereto after said packer assembly is set; slidably related rst seal means between said tubular support and said bore; said support having at least one port extending therethrough providing communication between the interior and exterior of said tubular support relatively above said packer assembly; a seal carrier having second seal means therein and being slidably disposed about the tubular support, said seal carrier and second seal means being movable between a first position wherein said port is open and a second position wherein said second seal means closes said port; latch means releasably connecting said seal carrier to said tubular support in said iirst and second positions, said latch means including an expansible and retractable split ring normally expanded outwardly, said seal carrier having a recess on the inner side thereof to receive said ring, said tubular support including an annular slot in the outer surface for receiving said ring upon retraction thereof; and means to cause axial relative movement between said tubular support and said seal carrier to retract said ring, said last named means comprising a J-slot housing suspended to said seal carrier and a gudgeon pin carried by said tubular support, said pin being arranged to engage said J-slot in said I-slot housing when said tubular support is disengaged from said packer assembly and moved downwardly through said bore.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said seal means within said seal carrier comprises spaced seal rings arranged to straddle said port when said seal carrier is moved axially relative to said tubular support.

3. The combination called for in claim 1, with the addition of a shoulder on said tubular support and on said seal carrier, said shoulders being engageable to limit the relative axial movement between said tubular support and said seal carrier when said seal means Within said seal carrier is in -said second position closing said port.

4. The combination called for in claim 1, with the addition of a shoulder in said seal carrier engaging said split ring when said seal carrier is in said second position, closing said port, thereby latching said seal carrier and seal means in said second position.

5. In apparatus for use in a well bore; a tubular support member; a packer assembly arranged to be set in the well bore, said assembly including a tubular body surrounding the tubular lsupport member, upper anchoring means including, expansible slips above said tubular body, and lower anchoring means including, expansible slips below said tubular body, releasable attachment means between said packer assembly and said tubular support member, a setting sleeve slidably encircling said tubular support member above said upper slips, a plurality of upper expander segments surrounding the tubular support member between said upper slips and support member, said setting sleeve having a lower end arranged to engage and move outwardly said upper expander segments, coacting tapered surfaces on said upper expander segments and said upper slips arranged to move said upper slips outwardly into anchoring engagement with the well bore wall, a lower expander head suspended to said tubular body engageable with said lower anchoring means to expand same outwardly, packing means slidably carried about said tubular body arranged to be expanded into sealing engagement with the well bore wall means carried by said tubular support member engageable with said setting sleeve to move same downwardly when said support member is disengaged `from said packer assembly; slidably related seal means between said support member and said packer assembly; a seal carrier including seal members therein slidably disposed about said tubular support member above said packer assembly; latch means releasably connecting said seal carrier to said tubular support member in a first position and a second position; said tubular support member having at least one port providing communication between the interior of said support member and the exterior thereof above said packer assembly when said seal carrier is in said rst position; and means to move said seal carrier axially along said tubular support member to said second position wherein said seal means in the seal carrier closes said port while said packer assembly remains set in said well bore.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 with the addition of engageable shoulder means on said tubular support member and on said seal carrier to limit the axial movement of said tubular support member with relationship to said seal carrier when said shoulder means are in engagement.

7. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein the means carried by said tubular support member to move said setting sleeve downwardly comprises a housing attached to said support member, a cooperating J-slot and gudegon pin connection between said housing and said setting sleeve, and wherein said latch means releasably attaching said seal carrier to said tubular support member includes an expansible and contractable split ring carried by said tubular support member, said seal carrier and said tubular support member having opposed annular recesses receiving said ring, said ring being contracted into the recess in said tubular support member when said J-slot and gudgeon pin are engaged and said seal carrier is located between said first and second positions thereby permitting movement of said seal carrier -from one of said positions to the other of said positions.

8. The combination called for in claim 5 with the addition of means to hold said seal carrier stationary, to permit tubular support member to move upwardly therethrough, whereby said port is moved to said first position above said seal carrier while said packer assembly is set.

9. ln a packer for use in a well bore, a support member; a mandrel extending through said support; a packing element about said support member adapted for releasable sealing engagement with the wall of the well bore; an upper anchoring means carried -by said support member above said packing element; a lower anchoring means carried by said support member below said packing element; means for releasably attaching said mandrel to said support member below said lower anchoring means; a tubular valve body attached to an upper end of said mandrel, said valve body having at least one port through the wall thereof; and a seal support disposed about the valve body; means releasably attaching said seal support to said valve body, said seal support being slidable thereon when released therefrom and being movable thereon between a first position wherein said port is open and a second position closing said port; and means to exert axial force between said mandrel and said seal support to release the seal support from the valve body, whereby said seal support can be moved between said positions.

10. The combination called for in claim 9 wherein the means to exert axial force between lsaid mandrel and said seal support comprises a tubular member slidably disposed about said mandrel, said tubular member being operably connected with said seal support and engageable with said upper anchoring means when said means releasably attaching said mandrel and support member is released and said mandrel is moved downwardly relative to said support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12 Evans 166-119 Brown 166-134 Young 166-131 X Holden 166-196X DAVID H. BROWN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R. 

